AARON RAMSEY’S former Cardiff City boss Dave Jones has revealed he wanted the ace to sign for Manchester United rather than Arsenal.
The 32-year-old midfielder, who has won 82 caps for Wales, has made an emotional return to the Bluebirds following his release by French side Nice.
Aaron Ramsey burst on to he scene at Cardiff City as a teenager
The Welshman moved to Arsenal and won the FA Cup three times
Ramsey, who snubbed a money-spinning switch to Saudi Arabia, came through the ranks at Cardiff and broke into the team as a 16-year-old.
He had only made 22 first-team appearances when a host of Premier League teams started chasing his signature in 2008.
Manchester United, managed by Sir Alex Ferguson, announced that they had agreed a fee with Cardiff for the then teenage starlet.
However, Ramsey snubbed the Red Devils and instead ended up joining Arsenal after speaking with Arsene Wenger.
He spent 11 years at Arsenal and played 259 times and scored 61 goals.
Ramsey also helped the Gunners to win three FA Cups during that period, scoring in two of the finals, and cementing his status as a fan favourite.
However, Jones told BBC Sport that he wanted him to go to United instead – and revealed the reason why.
He said: “We lost him to Arsenal. I don’t think he completed 20 games for us before Arsenal and Manchester United kept calling for him.
“As a personal preference I wanted him to go to Manchester United because Sir Alex was going to let me have him back [on loan].
“But I knew if he went to Arsenal, Arsene Wenger would play him.”
Ramsey left the Emirates for Juventus in 2019 on a free transfer.
He then had a loan spell at Rangers, where they reached the 2022 Europa League Final, before joining Nice.
He scored just once in 34 appearances last season but Jones believes his Cardiff comeback is quite the coup for the Championship team.
He added: “It’s a great move for Cardiff – it’s a scoop really to pick up such a good player.
“He is a good age as long as he can keep himself fit. I think most players in their career will go through a spell where you have your ups and downs.
“When you look at Arsenal, Juventus and Nice, he has got a good CV.
“A lot of people will say he can still play at the highest level and I think he could. But it’s better for Cardiff [that he goes there] and he must think it’s better for himself to go there.”
Aaron Ramsey is now back at Cardiff
Dave Jones says he wanted the star to snub Arsenal for Man Utd
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